Diffuse Fibrosing Alveolitis (Diffuse Interstitial Fibrosis of the Lungs): Two Cases with Autoimmune Features

Abstract

This report describes two female patients with clinical, functional, and histological features suggestive of diffuse fibrosing alveolitis, and, in addition, serological findings indicative of an autoimmune reaction. The results of autoimmune serological tests in a further 15 patients are pre- sented in tabular form. Read (1958b) presented detailed evidence supporting 'the concept that some cases of the Hamman-Rich syndrome are based on immune mechanisms'. Our findings suggest that diffuse fibrosing alveolitis could be caused by an autoimmune reaction, but our evidence is not conclusive. The term 'diffuse fibrosing alveolitis' has been used throughout this paper to include diffuse interstitial fibrosis and the Hamman-Rich syndrome according to the sug- gestions made by Scadding (1964) and Gough (1964).